The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-01-28
THE MISSING LETTER.


THE MISSING LETTER.
"Here. Barney, take this letter to
Miss Laura Carter. Mind and give it
yourself into her own hands.
II was Fred Harlowe who said this-a
fine young fellow, with curly brown
hair and soft dark eyes that had the
same chestnut CLINT in them
THAT l will, Mr.. Fred. Will l wait
for an answer, sirP"
mo. i will 60 for the answer my
self"
Barney was passing out of the gate,
when a sudden thought struck him.
Pretty Kate Moony was seamstress
at Mr.. Carter's whose good graces he
was anxious to obtain. So, turning
back, he went to his snug little room
over the stables, and taking off his soiled
and torn jacket put on his Sunday
best" casting complacent glance as
he buttoned Il over the brawny chest at
the cracked glass that hung over the
mantel, and which revealed a frank,
honest face whose prevailing expression
was that of careless, rollicking good
nature.
Barney had nearly reached his desti-
nation when, suddenly putting his
hand in his pocket, he found the letter
missing.
1t had been left behind in his every
day jacket.
There was nothing to be done but to
turn back.
Barney had only gone about half the
distance when he met Mr.. Fred on
his way to town, who hailed him with:
Hello, Barney, you've been quick.
Did you give the letter into Miss Laura s
own handp"
Eyes, sir; av coorse, sir, ~ said Bar
ney, not daring to confess the truth,
and quieting his conscience with the
thought that he would do so with the
least possible delay.
He was not long in reaching his
room. But. on searching hi-;acket no
letter was TO pc found ..s.--'-s,---
What was to be done nowP
Nothing but to make a full confes-
sion of his carelessness, which the false
hood he had told made still harder for
him to do.
But there was no other alternative;
he well knew that it would be found out
in time, and that Mr.. Fred would be
much less angry with him if he had the
story from his own lips
But he had no opportunity that day.
MIR. Fred came home. but in a great
hurry and apparent illustration, going
away almost Immediately.
IL was not until the next day that
Barney or any of the other servants
knew that their young master had set
sail for Europe.
'Sure, Miss Katy, and it's nate
hand We are with needle. Take pity
on q poor lone man and mend this
old jacket"
.0ld, indeedr' shifted Katy, with a
disdainful toss of the head; cit would
be dale easier making We new one.
But what is this betwixt the linin'p The
saints preserve us, but it's letter!''
Barney started to his feet as he
caught glimpse of the soiled and
wrinkled envelope that Katy pulled out
from rent in the lining of his jacket.
"By the powers! If it amt the one
that Mr.. Fred gave me for Miss Laura,
and which disappeared all of student.
II was just before he went away to
furrin parts. was in terrible takin'
when / missed it. but I've never
thought of it from that day to this. "
'An' We don't name to say that ye
never let on that We lost itp''
'How could /, Katy dearP Sure, an
didn't MIR. Fred lave the very mkt
mornin'P"
''Oh, hear the stupid, careless, good
for-nothing fellow talk! And wasn't
that what made him goP An isn't
poor Miss Laura a-grievin' of herself as
white and thin as ghostp an all for
the want O. the letter that you've been
carryin' about inside of your jacket six
weeks or more! I've no patience with
ye! Give it to me-"
What are you going to do, KatyP'
inquired Barney, in alarm, as the in
dignant girl, seizing the letter, turned
toward the door.
'1'm goin' to try to undo what you've
done, Mr.. Barney. Miss Laura shall
have her letter, though no thanks to
you for the same"
Katy found her young lady in her
room, and in her haste and eagerness
scarcely waited to give the usual tap be-
fore entering.
Young Mr.. Harlowe's abrupt depart
ure had been sad mystery to poor
Laura Carter until she read the letter
that Katy laid on her knee, and listened
to the story of its long delay and how il
came into her possession.
In spite of the angry tone she had
taken with Barney, Katy had a soft
place in her heart for the thoughtless,
Igood-hearted fellow, who was over
whelmed with sorrow at the result OF
his carelessness. So she ventured q
few words of excuse for him.
But Laura scarcely heard or needed
her, 80 fast did her heart beat with Joy
ut this happy solution of the mystery
that had caused so many sorrowful
days and sleepless nights.
And so letter went across the At
lantic, in answer to the one that was so
long in reaching its destination, bear
ing to the sad exile the words that he
had so often yearned but never hoped
to hear.
II is hardly necessary to state that
Fred's return was as sudden and
abrupt as his departure, or to speak
of the merry wedding that followed.
The young people were too happy to
cherish hard feelings toward poor Bar
ney, whose contrition was so sincere.
| In spite Of the sorrow he had caused
them, when he married Katy, few
months later. MIR. Fred gave him the
position Of head gardener on his estate.
Installing the two in neat, pretty cot
tage, which was, as Katy often had oc-
casion to tell him:
much better than he deserved"
AN exchanges inquiries: 'What has
become Of the man who doesn't drink,
smoke, chew, swear, or betPn Most OF